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No. 81,1007.V Patented Aug. u, 1.868.

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T. J. ROCKWOOD. A

Mllhng Machlne. No. 81,007. Patented Aug. H, 1868 M. www

tLPETERS, PHru-LJYHOGRAPHER. WASHINGYDN. D C:

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LettersPatent No.,81,0i)7, dated August 111,*1868.

IMPROVBD MACHINE FOR ltIIlLLI'lNTG THE KNIFE-EDGES 0F SCALES.

'ridge Stlgetnl referat in in that intera ttextt mrtmrtittg part nt the samt.

ToALL WHoM 1T MAY ooNcERN: Y.

Be Ait known that I, THOMAS J. ROCKWOOD, of St. Johnsbury, in the county of"Caledonia, and State of Vermont, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Finishing the Knife-Edges of Scales;v and I do hereby declare thatl the following isa full and exact description thereof- My machine inishesthe knife-edges after Athey are permanently secured in their places in the lever, treats the metal with mathematical precision by means of milling-tools, carried on firmly-supported and Very delicatelyadjustable shafts, and presents the same to the milling-tools in such manner, and with .such adjustments, thatv the knife-edge is not only mathematically placed relatively to theother knife-edges, and is'accur'ately finished in the proper line, but may be made more or less acute at will, -and may be operated and adjusted very rapidly, andrequires butia moderate degree ofskill. A e- I will proceed to describe what Iconsider the best means of carrying out my invention, and will afterwards designate the points which 'I believe to be new therein` i The accompanying drawings form a part of this specitication.

Figure 1 is a front view, with .the parts in order for working, and with a lever of a'scale in place, but with .the milling-tools a little wider apart than the correct position for working, and with' the carriagev in the middle lposition.

A Figure 2 is a plan view of the same. Y

Figure 3 is an end' view, with the milling-tools and all the adjacent mechanism removed from this end, to allow a clear view of the central mechanism. i I

f Figure 4 is a diagramillustrating the motion of each knife-edge'in being presented for finishing each face.

Similar letters of reference indicate likeparts in all the figures. Tints are employed merelyto ad'in-distinguishing parts, and do not imply diii'erence of metal. i The metal of the whole may be iron and steel.

A A, Snc., is the fixed framework of the machine, made of cast iron, and supported on legs, at a convenient elevation. I f

B is a carriage, adapted to rise and sink between guides. It is capable of no other than'a simple vertical motion. It is raised and lowered by means of a lever, C, which maybe operated by hand.

D is a table, supported on the carriage B,'and capable ofv traversing longitudinally therein, according as the wheel E `isturned. `The latter may be turned by hand, as required. The table D carries, firmly fixed on its upper surface, the lever, which has the knifeledges fixed therein. The lever-is represented by M. i

There are four milling-tools, P Piping, mounted on axesp pippz, geared together, as represented, and adapted to be slowly and steadily turned by belts, not represented, running on the pulleys which are .in gear` therewith. The lever being mounted, and rmly clamped in its proper position on the table D, is moved Iinto the right position by turning the hand-wheel E, and is tlien'raised by operating the hand-lever C, to present" one side of each of the knife-edges to the corresponding millinghtool. After that side has been properly treated, the leveris lowered by the hand-lever 0,'and isinoved endwise by operating the hand-wheel E, and'is then again raised by depressing the lever C, and in this position the opposite sides or faces of the same. knife-edges are treated by othei-'mi lling-'tools. Thus it appears that the cor-respondingknife-edges on tlie opposite sides ofthe lever are reduced simultaneously; first, thevone side of each is treated, and then the opposite sideof each is treated. Holding the lever firmly in the correct position, and having the milling-tools adjusted correctly, the

llnifeedges are certain to -be nished very accurately. An adjustable stop is provided, to prevent the milling.

operation from being carried beyond the exactly-right degree in cach instance.

Having now given a general idea. ofthemode of operation, I will explain more in detail the minutiae of the machine. i v

First, 'the adjustments o f the milling-tools. It will bc observed that thc shafts p 11227292 arc carriedy in pairs, nearly or exactly in line, and that the-pairs are gearedlt'ogether on each side by `coarse and long-toothed gear-wheels, Pl. This compels the milling-tools P P2, on each side of themachine, to turn towards each other,

and gives the right motion for iinishin'g each side of the knife-edges with a downward cut. The power is applied through the gearing, as represented, to one set, pp, 'of the shafts alone, and the gear-wheels l?l Il communicate the power therefrom to the other` set, ppg. The nature of-the gearing allows a. considerable variation in the distance apart of the sets-of axes. It is, in practice, difn'cult to produce milling-tools exactly alike inl diameter,

i and it is sometimes diiiicult toinsure an absolutely cylindrical form. AIn case either niilling'etool is a little larger or smaller than'is intended, or incase either is slightly conicahI can adjust the position of the axis which carries Ait so as to compensate for suchfaults, and to cut the knife-edge with accuracy.

The adjustments now referred ,to arev effected by means o f thailand-wheels Q Q, 82o., which are fixed on endless screws, not represented, which inove the bearings for the shaftspp2 according as thescrews are turned to the right or to the left.. Y The bearing-s are in blocks It R, which `are fitted in the housing, witliliberty-to move a little distance toward and from .the corresponding bearing of the parallel shaft. By making both ends of 4each shaft adjustable independently, I can Aset the shafts exactly parallel when the milling-tools Acarried th'ereon are exactly cylindrical, and I can, when the millingtools are conical, set the shafts a little Ioblique, to compensate therefor. It will be observed that I have made the shaft which carries thelriuing-pulley adjustable in position. This allows the gearing of this shaft with the corresponding milling-shaft P to be always perfectly adjusted, however the milling-shaft may change inposition.

Aside fromthe very delicate adjustments above described, the milling-tools may bc said to be mounted in pairs, P P and 222292, one member feach pair being on one side of the machine, and the other member of that pair being on the other side, but both in line, or very nearly in line, with each other. New, itis desirable, in the great variety of scales which it is desired to treat on a single machine, to adjust the milling-tools to greater or Aless widths of levers. I de this hy moving the whole of each carriage-thecarriages or housings in which the shafts'jo'p2 andp'je2 are carried-bodily to and from` each other. The housings are designated U U, and are movable out and in' on ways orl guides, provided on the framework A, by means of the endless screws u', u. In preparing the machine to finish a wide lever, we vadjust the housings U U wide apart. In adapting the machine to uish a narrower lever, as,- for example, a common steel-'yard bar, we adjust the housings correspond-4 ingly nearer together. l

Next, the adjustments of the knife-edges. Itfwill be observed that the upper surface offthejable -D has three longitudinal grooves of a T-section, adapted to receive the heads of bolts, or.y analogous-shaped masses, and allow them to be guided and confined therein, and adjusted in various positionslengthwise ofthe table. I- make these grooves, which are designated d, confine the adjustable supports and clamps which secure the lever. As the machine is here represented, the central knife-edges arebeing supported ,rmly in adjustable supports, which I have not before referred to, and these supports aid in keeping the end knife-edges in the exact position required while they are being milled. The .adjustable supports are represented byff. They are traversed longitudinally on the adjustable cross-,piece lI by means of a serew,f. It will be seen that by these arrangements, the crosspiece F being adjustable longitudinally in the grooves d d, and the, supports ff being each adjustable, independently, in the transverse direction, the knife-edges can be placed at-any distance apart, and at any .distance from either end of the table. I provide two of these cross-pieces F with adjustable supports, and adjustable screws, although only one is here represented. When it is necessary to nish the central knife- `edges of a lever, I support the end knit`e-edges, at each end, on such supports.4

'The ends of the knife-edges, which are to be milled, rest firmly upon blocks G G, indicated in redoutline, which are carefully finished to such heights that, when the 'central knife-edges are properly rested in the supports ff, the levers bear fairly at the ends on the supports G G. The lever M is pressed down firmly at each end by means of cross-pieces H H, which are operated by levers I I, and cams, J J'carriedin adjustablestands 'K K.' These stands, being fitted to traverse in the grooves d cZ, may beadjustedlongitudinally to any posi- -tion required on the table D by turning the screw K. The height ofthe centre of the lever'I may be varied at will. I When the height of the centre 'of the lever I is properly adjusted, turning the cam J'down `or up by means of the handle j, independently, slachens or tightens the pressure upon the corresponding 4cross-piece H.

I have now'described the means for holding the lever M, with its several knife-edges, very irm'ly in its desired position on the table D. I have now' yto describe the very important provisions for moving-the latter with its load.

In order to ,finish the knifeedges at one end of'they lever, the hand-wheel E is seized bythe hand and turned.. This moves the table D endwise, by reason oi` the action of the gear-wheel E on Athe rack D', the latter being attaehed'to the table D, and compelling the latter to movewith it. When thetable has been moved to a sufficient extent, the handwheel is released, and the lever C is operated to raise the table D and its attachments, and thus to present the knife-edges properlyto one ofthe pairs of cutters. f It is obviously important to determine with great accuracy the correct 4longitudinal position of the bed or table D with its load, and also the height to which it shall rise, with each given style or size of-levcr.

New, I determine the correct longitudinal position by means of gauges, which are very delicately adjustable. I use one gauge for the adjustment of the table for finishing the front faces of the knife-edges at the front end of `the lever; another gauge for determining tile position in finishing th-e back faces of the front knife-edge; still a third for the front faces of the rear knife-edges, and a fourth for the back faces of the rear .knife-edges. I I

These-four gauges 'are represented near the four corners of the table D. Each`is separately adjustable. This fact being distinctly understood, so as to allow the cutting or finishing of cach face/to be adjusted indcpendently of the others, a minute description of one will suii'ee'for the whole.

A dove-tailed groove extendslongitudinal-ly on cach edge of the table D. This is represented by d. The gauges Aare. adjustable in these grooves, Coniining our attention to one alloue of 'the gauges, L represents a carriage which is adjustable' longitudinally along the groove d by means of the pinching-screw Z'; that is to say, on slackening the screw Z, the small carriageL may be pushed lengthwise of the groove, andadjusted roughly in any desiraed position,and then firmly confined by tightening the screw l. Now the gauge N is mounted, so as to slide longitudinally in the carriage L. It may becontined firmly by means ofthescrew u, orit may be adjusted longitudinally on the carriage L, with all the 'delicacy that can be desired, by means ofthe screw O. I prefer to let the screw/1t extend through both the gauge N and the carriage L`,'and to find its base in a dove- 'tailed head corresponding in forni and size to the dove-tailed groove d. In 'such case-the tightening of the sc`rew 'n not only contines the-gauge N relatively to the carriage L, but also confines bothV firmly relatively to the carriage D, but this may not be material. The carriage, L, being supposed tobe itself secured beyond a .possibility of springing or yielding appreciably by tlre screw Z, it`may not bevitally important to'attach the gauge N more directly than to the carriage L. In eitherease the slackening ofthescrew n-liberates the gauge N, and allows it to be adjusted by the screw O, after which itcan be tightened by tightening thcscrew n.

The gauge N performs its functions as follows: It extends forward beyond the carriage L, and is capable of springing upward a little.- Its front edge is bevelled upward, and,as the carriage D, on being carried forward by the action of the hand-wheel E and its connections, approaches the termination of its journey, the bevelled front end ofthe gauge N touches,'and commences to ride upon the fixed knife-edge V, which is mounted on the carriage B. i I

It should be remarked that this member, though properly called a knife-edge from its form and functions,

is not one of theknife-edges td be treated, butis, on the contrary, a part of the machine itself.

The turning of` the hand-wheelE--being continucd,the gauge N slides forward, pressing downward upon the knife-edgeV until exactly the right position has been attained, when the iixed knife-edge V is received in a recess of corresponding form produced in the lower face of the springing part of tho fgauge, and arrests the motion.

This recess is plainly shown in igJS, and is designated n. It will, of course, be 'understoodthat the 4operator knows'approgrimately when he reaches the proper position of the table D and vits load` and that con vsequently he is not turning the hand-'wheel E with very great vforce at that time.

` `rllhe gaugeN, and its connections, as also the fixed knife-edge V, should be mado of suiiicient 'strength to indicate very plainly to the attendant by the clicking downot` tho gauge N upon the fixed knife-edge V, and the sudden immobility of the parts, that the right position has been attained.

When this condition ofthe mechanism is attained, the lever C s operated to raise the table D audits load.

After the knifeledgehas been finished on that-face, it is-again lowered. The gauge N is elevated from its connection with the fixed knife-edge V by means of the hand-lover W, which turns on the centre lw.- In this condition of the parts, 'the hand-wheel E may be again turned, and the table D may be moved endwise tothe extent required for finishing another face. I A

The mechanism for raising and lowering and properly gauging the elevation of the table D and its load, will now complete the description of the machinef.

The leverC is connected to a pairof cams, or more properlyoperates a pair ofcamflevers C fixed on the shaft c. These levers C turn with the hand-lever C, and act to lift the carriage B and its connections by acting against rollers B', which are mounted on the under face of the carriage B.

The acting 'faces or sides of the cam-levers C are grooved, as represented, so that while in the early p'art of the ascending motion, the motion shall be rapid, but while in the last part, the motion shall be slower. This slowing of the motion towards thc end of the ascent, provides suicie'nt time for the milling-tools P to cutaway the metal slowly. I providea stop for the upward motion,which is reliable and adjustable. This isa nut, X, which may be turned up and down, as required, on the screw 0:, which depends from the centre of the carriage B. In the lower positions .of thecarriage B thenut X is of no e'ect, buton raising it to present a rnife-edge to the action of Athe milling-tools, the nut'X approximates to a'firnr bearing against the surface a provided on the framing A, and, when the carriage Band its connections have been raisedto a just suicient extent to insure the reduction of the knifefedges to the proper extent, the nut strikes fairly against the surface a and arrests the ascent. The operator instantly feels this resistance, and, after holding the lever C stationary for a. few seconds to allow the milling-tools to complete their work perfectly, he returns the lever'C to its'original position, thus lowering the carriage.

The carriage is now freev to be moved for milling another faceof the same or a different knife-edge, or to allow the entire lever M to be removed and another substituted, and thus the work may be carried on rapidly and continuously.

H aving now fullydescrihed my invention, together with the best means known to me for applying it in practice, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is not the specic parts lmentioned in severalty, but as follows f i l. I'claim thc combination of the table and holding-device with 'the four milling-tools P P2 P P2, when all are adjustable as herein set forth. v

2. I claim the laterally-adjustable cross-picco F, the knife-edge supportsf, adjustable `to a greater or less distance apart by means of the screws f and the table D, in combination with the milling-tools P P2, all arranged substantially asfand for the purposes herein specified.

3. I'claim the adjustable vertical stop X. and screw-shaft x, in combination with the levers C C', carriage B, table D,'a'nd the milling-tools P P2, as andiforthe purposes herein set forth.'

4. I claim the gauges N, their holders -L, and fixed knife-edges V on the carriage B, and the table D, in combination with the milling-tools,or their equivalents, as and for the purposes herein set forth..

5. I claim the arrangement ofthe milling-tools P P1P Pz, the c arriage'B, the table D, and the several devices connected therewith, so as to allow I'she confining of levers of different sizes, and of dierent proportions and widths, and the ready clmngngI ofthe levers and of all the several parts, substantially'in the manner vherein described. 4 l v l In testimony whereof, have hereunto set my nume in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THos. J. RoeKwooD.

Witnesses:

W, O. DEY,

THOMAS Il STETSON. 

